Esti Feny chasing back-to-back Gosford Gold Cup wins after qualifying for Caulfield Cup
Former Hungarian galloper Esti Feny got his first Australian win in last year’s Gosford Gold Cup but could have even bigger things on the horizon during his 10-year-old season.
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Esti Feny will get the chance to become a history maker in the Caulfield Cup this spring but the evergreen stayer will have modern day record in his sights in the Listed $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) this Saturday.
Trainer Matthew Smith is hoping Esti Feny can become the only horse this century and first since Dark Diamond in 1971-72 to win the Gosford Gold Cup back-to-back at Gosford this weekend.
Amazingly, the former Hungarian horse of the year will get the chance as he nears the end of his nine-year-old season.
Esti Feny was a comfortable winner of last year’s Gosford Gold Cup in what was his first victory on Australian soil and returns to the scene of his drought-breaking victory in winning form after a surprise Mornington Cup win last start.
The Mornington Cup success qualified Esti Feny for the Caulfield Cup where he will attempt to be the first 10-year-old to win the feature event later this spring.
Smith couldn’t help but marvel at his well-travelled stayer’s late career success as he prepares to chase another milestone.
“It’s kind of crazy, you should never give up faith,” Smith said.
“I’ve tried different things with him and it’s worked.
“We just keep him up at our farm up at Luskin Park (near Maitland) so he gets a bit more time in the paddock then some of the others.
“We’ve put a track in up there so have quite a few up there now so that’s been good and we train him there.”
Esti Feny is a $15 TAB chance to repeat the feat with Jay Ford aboard after a final field of 15 horses accepted for the Cup on Wednesday.
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Smith also nominated Esti Feny for the Gold Coast Cup at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday but decided to keep his veteran galloper closer to home with wet weather expected across the east coast.
“I put him up in Queensland but the track is just as wet up there,” Smith said.
“He is going well.
“He will struggle a bit if the track is wet but we are going to go around.
“We will run him at Gosford again and give him his chance there before we probably looking at the Andrew Ramsden.”
ESTI FENY CAUSES A HUGE UPSET IN THE MORNINGTON CUP! 😱
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) April 20, 2024
THE NINE-YEAR-OLD WINS A TICKET INTO THE CAULFIELD CUP!@mcsmithracing@DanielStack33pic.twitter.com/r8eEJSDAr4
Smith will be chasing a stakes double this weekend with Astero in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).
Astero’s chances were enhanced when the gelding drew barrier one for the $200,000 sprint assignment where he will connect with Jaden Lloyd.
The son of Zoustar, a winner first up this preparation, got too far back in a leader dominated race at his last start at Rosehill Gardens.
“He just had no chance the other day at Rosehill,” Smith said.
“It was a bit like a barrier trial but he will be good to go. The horse is working really well and I think it’s a pretty open race.”
Astero is a $26 contender.
Originally published as Esti Feny chasing back-to-back Gosford Gold Cup wins after qualifying for Caulfield Cup
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